weaning

[countache]

Hi , Looking for advice . coming off percocet and don't have enough to wean properly. starting to panic. Just looking for words of encouragement  . Down to 15 left and been taking 3 a day , dropped from 5 a day 10 ml percocet. Not really experience many withdrawal symptoms except lots of yawning , a little runny nose and teary eyes. the panic is really mental in respect to finally having none left. Should I jump to 2 a day for the final few days starting tomorrow? Dreading stress of life without chemical way to relax. I have high pressure job and a beautiful family. Desparate to be happy and healthy so I can enjoy them again med free just afraid that I won't be able to do that for a long time. I am also afraid of full on withdrawl even tho I am not experience any real discomfort with reduction from 5 to 3 even tho I have been on them for several years . Any advice? Will I definitely have flu, other symptoms, etc when they are finally out of my system? any words would be helpful. Feeling very panicked and alone. I can't speak to anyone about this as no one knows of my problem. Thank you

[countache]

Thanks so much for the encouragement. Just gonna take it one hour at a time

[msdelight]

Go to the outer boroughs or the upper east side. So many na meetings here are filled with mandatories.  It's best to keep looking and don't give up until you find a good fit. Wishing you well. Keep pushing and don't give up.

[countache]

Thank you. I'm still on course but freaked about the weekend coming up. Still tapering . Going to 2 tomorrow. No terrible symptoms so far except panicking if I allow it and a little runny nose , yawny. I really need people right now so I will find a meeting tomorrow. Thanks so much.

[gnarly_1]

Hi....well I agree with the others  it is time to jump ship  that fast of ataoer is not going to make a differece...just take it day by day I have said this a million times but you just got  to be ok without being ok for a wile  it will be what it will be...this is 1/3 phyical and 2/3 mental so be ready to fight it out on both fronts  pick up a case of gatoraid and force the fluids  pick up some epsom salt for the bath   a hot soak goes a long way in helping the symptoms  rent a bunch of movies your probably not going to be able to sleep  in around 5 days the physical part will be over....but it is the mental mindscrew that brings most people down  N/A will help with this keep posting for supoort where all here for you..............Gnarly............

[countache]

Thanks. I will give a call.

[jifmoc]

You're in Manhattan??!!! You are in the mecca of recovery.(and everything else for that matter!) Look up NA.org and call them if you can't find a meeting. I'm in LA and there are many NA meetings here, but I chose AA and there are meetings literally almost around the clock. You can go to either one. Almost all the folks I've met in AA have issues w/ drugs as well.  

[countache]

The mind is so powerful. Just have to keep busy so. I won't obsess on what's coming. I might try to jump to 2 today , had 3 yesterday and felt fine physically. I had been on 5 a day last week. And I started taking 3 Monday and today is Friday. Fingers crossed. Heading to the gym. It's 530 am  . Ready for a busy day and praying to God it goes quickly and well. I'm having trouble finding meetings online tho. Any advice ? There seems to be so few in my area and they are all in the evening. ( which I can't get to tonight). I'm in Manhattan. Am I looking in the wrong place for a meeting list ? Thanks again and bless everyone here.

[Cricketk92]

Here is a link to online AA meetings.  There is also an NA meeting online but only 1 a day at 10pm.....  Ill send you both links!  http://www.aaonline.net/chatguests.php   that was AA  and this is NA  http://www.nachatroom.org/content/main.php#meetingList

[evil379]

In my experience, the fear of detoxing was so much worse than the actual detox. Just the thought of going stopping my meds would make me sweat and start to panic. To be honest, did I feel like crap? Yes, but it wasn't as bad as I had worked it up in my mind prior to going thru it. Going to a meeting is good because it's easier when you've got someone in your corner that knows what you're going thru.

[countache]

Thanks again

[jifmoc]

Count- so glad you will go to a meeting. You will be amazed at how many pillheads (and all types of drug addicts) there are out there. Everyone in there will know exactly how you feel.

Yes, I took a similar amount as you, give or take. I was on norco, and about 8 or 9 norco is equal to 5 perks. Many, if not most people on here are opiate addicts and they started the same as you. Never into anything hard core before they found pills. You will learn that you had traits that predict an addictive personality such as obsession and anxiety. For now, like Cricket said, don't look into the future or try and figure this all out. You can't. Let go and accept that you will detox and you will get through it. Every single person who has responded to you has been where you are and we got thru it. And we are no different than you AT ALL.

[countache]

Thank you

[countache]

Thanks Karen. I will try to get to a meeting. Meds are so dangerous. I never drank or picked up a drug in my life , then one painful surgery during a horrible time in my life and boom. That was it. I got used to feeling numb. I will be strong and get through it I hope. Is it normal not to feel symptoms of withdrawl reducing from 5 to 3? I am really ok physically it's just the mental that's freaking me out as well as the guilt and shame of it all. Anyway thanks again.

[Cricketk92]

Some of us get lucky and don't have a horrible withdrawal!!  Maybe you are one of them!  I definitely feel like I was pretty lucky too!!!  I was always a drinker but did start the opiates for real pain.  It didn't take long for me to start abusing them though!  I just think I am addicted to anything!!!  :)  My body/brain just loves to be altered...  so I work at it everyday to stay clean!  It is such a better life....learning to deal with whatever comes and be present for it!!!  You will find in time and with work that there is nothing to be ashamed of!  As long as you live your life right and be willing to make things right with those you have hurt the shame does start to go!!!  There is no shame in being an addict.  Its what we do when we choose to go back to using that can keep causing us shame!  Keep on hanging in there!!!  ♡

[countache]

I will look for a meeting in my neighborhood tomorrow. Thank you for responding. I want to get well that is the most important thing. I will try to be brave. Did you experience bad withdrawl? Was your usage similar to mine ?

[countache]

Thank you so much. I will try to a find a meeting near me tomorrow. Did you have a similar story to mine ? Did you experience hard withdrawl. So grateful for your advice

[Cricketk92]

Hi and Welcome!!!  You are in the scary place right now.... building up all the fears of "What if"....  I can't add much to what has been said above except that for me detox was much better than my head imagined it to be!  No, it wasn't fun and I sure don't want to do it again but our minds awfulize it and make it so much worse!!!  It will be a week or 2 feeling yucky but then you should start to feel better!  And then you have a choice as to what to do to help you stay clean!  Besides the choice to stop using the choice on what to do next is the most important!  Aftercare looks different for everyone.... even those in 12 step have a different recovery than the other person in the room next to them.  But it is an important choice!  It is also a choice to choose to do nothing.  So choose wisely!   Hang in there and keep posting!!!  I posted almost everyday in the beginning and it helped so much!  There is a lot of wisdom and understanding and compassion in this forum!!!  We will be here routing you on!!!     ♡
Karen  

[VICourageous]

Hello & Welcome to our Community.

Unfortunately it is against MH rules to give you a taper plan. We are not Drs, nor do we know your Health issues. I can say, if it was a long taper then you should give your Body and Brain time to adjust to each drop. In your case I have to agree with Jifmoc..The first step is admitting you have a problem, but the detox is the easy part..yes it is uncomfortable, but working on staying clean becomes a day to day process. Life will always have some bumps in the road and things will happen good or bad. This is where Support comes in and working with others addicts, who have walked in these shoes, is the best bet. Lots of changes have to be made and knowing what brings on Triggers has to be addressed and avoided as much as possible.

I would suggest that you drink tons of water to help flush these toxins out. You can pick up some vit/min that you can add to water, like Airborne or Emergen-C. You can find out what vit/min help with sleep, anxiety and muscle pain and others that will help with the low-motivation and energy crash. Although the Brain & Body has to balance out on it's own. Exercise, Sun and Music really helps lift up those Happy Chems in our Brain. The physical is over way sooner then the mental part. Make sure you eat very Healthy too. We have to replenish back those vit/min that we have lost during our drug use. Protien, Amino-acids, Antioxidants and so fourth, will help you to build a better immune system. There is SO much to this disease and it will take some Time & Patience to get to the other side. Stick around for Support and try to get some face to face Support too. I do wish you the best. ALSO..Do Not feel shame or guilt. Addiction comes in many forums and the Brain has so much to do with this, as we really whack out those Brain Chems. It comes to the point that it goes beyond Willpower alone!! Hang tight and take it min by min, or hour to hour and than day by day.
Merry Christmas
Vickie

[Merri123]

My opinion is stick with the taper. I tapered and it was good. It worked out for me. Others can't but you are doing good. The lady taper WILL help. Even jumping at 3 a day won't be good.  In the meantime just prepare yourself mentally. You can do this. Don't be afraid. Believe me it is worth it!!

And yes meeting will help a lot.

[jifmoc]

Hi, Count. Honestly, 15 is not going to do anything to ease your withdrawls. You are panicking because you are thinking about the future, not what's here now. I wouldn't worry about tapering, it's not going to make a difference. Just finish them (or flush them!) and go cold turkey. Detox is unavoidable for EVERYONE. It's what we get to go thru for taking a pill to deal w/ all of life's realities.

You sound like the rest of us; in a hurry to be fine. That is such an addict way of thinking: I need to be better NOW. It doesn't work that way. You have been numbing yourself for 5 YEARS, you aren't going to feel tip top in a week. You have to give your brain and body a chance to heal. You can't put outside issues (travelling) in front of this or you will never get better. We've seen it over and over.

Acute detox is about 5 to 7 days, then feeling a tad better very slowly after that. In about 30 days, you will probably start feeling more normal. Detox is easy. It's staying clean that's the work. There is a reason why we choose to take a pill instead of facing life. We need to learn how to deal otherwise we go right back to the pill bottle. Aftercare (AA or NA etc) is absolutely essential. I would go to a meeting now if I was you. Yes, you can go if you're still using. It will calm you. Also, make sure you cut all your sources. Block your dealers #, cancel any refills etc.

Keep posting. There is a lot of support here:)

[countache]

Thanks for responding. Been on them for about 5 years on and off. Last year definitely most consistent and about 5 per day. This week since Monday on 3 a day with relatively no symptoms. Is that normal to reduce and have no real symptoms? Is that indicative that it might not be so be when completely off? I'm healthy as far as a know. I'm an athlete and work out daily lots of running and strength training. I'm also supposed to travel in two weeks with my family. Scared that when I go off it will be hell while I'm away. If I taper as you suggest I will be off end of next week. You think one week will be long enough to bounce back and not be impossible to travel ? The mental is just as scary as the physical. Just praying a lot and full of shame for what I got myself into. Thanks so much for your advice

[Madmax88]

Welcome,  anyways how long have you been on them and how old are you, are you healthy?? A lot depends on those questions, you have 15 left do a 3,3,2,2,2,1,1,1 taper it's not the best but it could help. Your going to have some flu like symptoms for a couple weeks but everyone's diffrent so we can't say what yours will be like. Your going to have to be okay with being sick for a bit, but it's not as bad as what your making it out to be.. Just approach with confidence! Defiantly need to know more though about your habit.